Flags of our Fathers / Letters from Iwo Jima

I am alone in thinking that flags of our farthers was a bit disapointing? I get the message, I understand whats its saying, but I dont think it was this great war movie epic it was billed at.

I really ennjoyed the other movie Letters from Iwo Jima, by far the best 'movie' movie of the tow, and making the pair together as oppisite views of the same thing just amazing. What a superb idea, really gets that futility accross.

But Flags as a stand alone movie, it didnt work for me. I found it hard to follow, disjointed and kept flashing back just as your getting into a character.


???

Kev

 

I haven't seen Letters from Iwo Jima yet.
But I think Flags of our fathers was quite disapointing too. Flashbacks in a film sometimes works out pretty good, but in this case I thought it made the story pretty dull, when it really could have been a good film.

 

I was greatly disappointed by the movie, while the book, to me, was a masterpiece. There was just so much about the movie that could have been better.

I felt that the producer/director/writers played fast and loose with some aspects of history, notably the scene where Gen Vandegrift supposedly made disparaging remarks about Ira Hayes concerning his American Indian ancestory. There was no basis in fact for what was portrayed and I found it disingenuous and deceitful.

If Eastwood had made an effort to follow the book more closely, it could have been an outstanding flick.

They way the deaths of the other three flag raisers were depicted was hurried and confusing and did little to honor those men.

I've chewed on this film harshly in other posts and agree with you Kev, that it was a disappointing attempt to reproduce an otherwise good, well written story of a fateful time in the Second World War. It seems to me that the "message" got in the way of the story.

 

So is the reccomendation to make sure I watch 'em both back to back when I do get around to them?
Does it matter which you watch first?

I can make no recommendation, as I haven't made the time to watch Letters as a result of the disappointment of Flags. Maybe some of the others can give you better info.

 

I was not big on Flags of Our Fathers, although I really enjoyed Letters From Iwo Jima. With a book as detailed as Flags of Our Fathers you can only expect so much in the film adaptation. I was not suprised when I found it to be somewhat dissapointing.

 

Im really surprised everyone agrees. the film had almost perfect reviews here, best war movie ever.

VP watch Flags first then letters. I think thats the order it came out in and probably the order it will have most impact in.

You need to watch em both, see how you feel about your loyalties during both films, if view them as 2 parts of the same film, its superb I think.

Wait till it comes down to about a tenner.

Kev

 

I agree... "Flag of our Fathers" was not the movie it was ramped up to be. "Letters from Iwo Jima" was the better of the two movies.

On the topic of these movies, I enjoy that these movies were made together and connected. A similar series is being produced about Che Guevara (starring Benicio Del Toro) is due out in 2008.

For me, my favorite war 'movies' are "The Downfall" and "Empire of the Sun"

 

I watched both the other day and found it similar. I much preferred 'Letters from Iwo Jima' to 'Flags of our Fathers'

 

I've not seen Empire of the Sun. Is it worth a watch?

 

I've not seen Empire of the Sun. Is it worth a watch?


I dont rate it.


But a lot of people do, Yes its worth a watch.

Kev

 

I've not seen Empire of the Sun. Is it worth a watch?


Worth the watch... you may enjoy it. But with any movies some folks like one, other like another.

 

the movie is good,... but seems (sorry guys) typical hollywood made movies,.. there were few distortions here and there,.. eg. Hara, a navy major was actually forewarned the general on the actual situation about combined fleed and everything,... and not the opposite,. instead, Kuribayashi was still put some hope on the relieve from the combined fleet at the earlier stage of the preparation of the battle.

 

Its a great film. I think your knock off version might have spoilt your enjoyment.

Kev

 

IMO, it's not one of those movies you watch over and over again, but
okay movie, worth seeing if you like WWII films.

And it's nice to see a movie which is not about "one brave American GI killing 238949 faceless evil foes running around in open without brains."

 

Its a great film. I think your knock off version might have spoilt your enjoyment.

Kev

Infact yes,.. i enjoy the movie very much,.. i like ken watanabe there, and in the 'last samurai'....i just dont really buy the historical telling there,..

 

A lot of the DVD's that we get here in this part of China are copies, some are very good others are not.
I managed to pick up a boxed set of Band of Brothers a couple of years ago and the quality was excellent, maybe it wasn't a copy but the 'price was right'.
I've been on the lookout for Letters from Iwo Jima but up to present haven't had any success.